The Two No-Brainer Rules of Writer’s Block

How To Tell If Yoga Will Help

If you write, no doubt you have encountered the nasty bad guy called Mr. Writer’s Block. He hangs around as you sit with knitted eyebrows, tense jaw, fingers steeple-shaped tipping your lips, staring out the window – looking the part of the writer (tweed jacket and all) fooling anyone that happens to walk past. They would say

“Would you look at yonder writer sitting by the window thinking up their next chapter? That’s the face of a block-bustering, New York Times bestselling author, if ever I saw one. Probably trying to think which Hollywood A-lister will star as their hero. I hope it’s Bruce Willis, he just gets better”.

Little do they know that Mr. Writer’s Block has cast the Imperius Curse – you are totally under his control.

The Cure to Writer’s Block is Twofold.

Do Not Write

Apparently, if you find yourself tense, frustrated and unable to write, it is a very good idea not to write. Stop giving your brain an ultimatum. Life has an uncanny way of bringing forth the greatest ideas when one is no longer grasping for the answer. How many of the world’s greatest minds were struck by inspiration while bathing, showering, sitting under trees, meditating, walking, exercising or sleeping? A relaxed, clear mind is one which is receptive to new ideas and what better way to stop over-thinking and give your creative brain a breather, than taking time out for some gentle stretches and yoga postures or meditation. Either an idea will come to you while you are focusing on something completely different or you will return to the task at hand with a clearer, calmer mind.

Sit Down and Write

The optimist believes that a book can quite literally ‘write itself’. Their internal dialogue goes something like this, “if I just sit here in Café Boho and drink enough tea, my fingers will magically bang out a bestselling trilogy on this here laptop before I can say ‘JK Rowling the Second’.” On the subject of writer’s block, much advice is given regarding sitting down and writing regardless of your creative-paralysis. Fill up that blank screen, they cry, write page after page. Forget about quality and give yourself permission to be rubbish. Do not expect a perfect draft, just take the pressure off. Again, yoga or meditation are helpful in this regard, as we have to learn to be compassionate towards ourselves at a time when we are generally most self-blaming. We have to remember that self-flagellation should only be found in the 13th Century or in a Dan Brown book. We can, therefore, say “this is crap but that’s okay – I’m working through this and oiling up the right side of my brain”.

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About Rose Servitova

Rose Servitova is an Irish writer - mother of two, wife of one. She has been practicing yoga for 8 years and writing since she started school. Trained as a Life-Coach and Reiki practitioner, she has also attended workshops on Meditation, Creative Non-fiction, Storytelling, Feldenkrais and Gestalt principles. One of Rose’s favourite pastimes is travelling. She has travelled extensively throughout the world and would travel inside a bag of coal if she thought it would give her a new perspective on life. She likes when humor and personal growth meet, generally looking for the ridiculous in life – having been influenced by her father’s mantra “Sure, if we don’t laugh, we’d cry.” Her aim in life is to become extremely profound.
Rose can be contacted at - [email protected]